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Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Officer Charged in Search Warrant Jewel Theft

As a result of a joint Miami-Dade County Police Department
and Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office investigation, 9 year Miami Dade Police
Department Detective Karel Rosario has been arrested and charged with:

1 countDealing in Stolen Property2nd Degree Felony

1 countGrand Theft2nd Degree Felony

After the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed a
May 20, 2015 search warrant at the residence of Mrs. Yulia Martinez which
resulted in her being taken into Federal custody and bonding out of jail, Yulia
Martinez discovered that several pieces of jewelry, including a Cartier watch
containing a custom diamond bezel, a gold bracelet with diamonds, Cartier-style
“Nail” bracelet, Rolex Daytona watch, a Bulgari ring, Bulgari bracelet, a David
Yurman bracelet and several expensive bottles of perfume, were missing from her
residence. No receipts were left at the residence specifying the items that
were seized during the search warrant, as is the normal police procedure.

On May 27, 2015, Rosario met at the Seybold Jewelry Building
with jeweler Mr. Joel Hernandez in an effort to sell a Cartier watch and
Cartier style “Nail” bracelet. Mr. Hernandez told Rosario that he was not
interested in the purchase. However, Mr. Hernandez posted pictures of the
Cartier watch to post on a social site named “WhatsApp” so that others in the
jewelry trade could see it and respond if interested. These negotiations were
captured on the jewelry store’s video surveillance camera.

Mr. Hernandez was soon contacted by jeweler Joel Vigo who
sought to learn who was in possession of the Cartier watch and the Cartier
style “Nail” bracelet. Mr. Vigo told Mr. Hernandez that he had sold that
specific Cartier watch which contained a diamond bezel and the Cartier style
“Nail” bracelet to Yulia Martinez’ husband. Mr. Vigo later contacted Yulia
Martinez and advised her of the incident. Yulia Martinez notified a member of
the private defense bar because these items were missing after the search of
her residence. On June 1, 2015, the attorney contacted the Miami Dade State
Attorney’s Office (SAO) initiating a criminal investigation.Thereafter, State Attorney Investigator
Supervisors working with the State Attorney’s Office Public Corruption Task
Force made contact with Ms. Martinez, Mr. Hernandez, and Mr. Vigo.All parties were interviewed and Officer
Rosario’s identification was verified.

“Good police work always depends on an officer’s honesty and
integrity. Honesty and integrity are the core values of every effective police
agency,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “Detective Rosario’s
stealing makes him no different than the thieves he would apprehend. This is a
sad day for the law enforcement community.”

“Our integrity is fundamental to the Miami-Dade Police
Department maintaining the trust of the community we protect and serve,” stated
Miami-Dade Police Director J.D. Patterson.“That integrity, and the need to maintain the absolute trust of the
community, requires that whenever one of our officers breaks the law, we hold
that officer accountable.”